Chair construction



CHAIR CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 10, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l Q mp -72%;.

July 23, 1929.

P. FLETCHER CHAIR CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 10, 1927 a .9 .45 122/" flaw- 14w Patented July 23, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIP FLETCHER, OF ELKHART, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM S. FERRIS, OF ELKHART, INDIANA, NOW TRADING AS THE DOMORE CHAIR COMPANY.

CHAIR CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed February 10, 1927.

This invention relates to improvements in chair constructions and it consists of the matter hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The primary object. of the invention is to provide an improved back rest and support therefor wherein the back rest is capable of a ready adjustment vertically and horizontally to bring it into that position most convenient for the occupant.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a construction wherein the top ends of the back rest supporting arms are adjustably connected to the forward portion of the seat frame thus not only permitting a ready adjustment of the back rest but also bracing it from the seat frame in a more cili cient manner.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved metallic seat frame parts of which are connected by a tie rod and spacer tube which so coact with the back rest supporting arms as to be capable of holding them in the desired adjusted position. 7 I

These objects of the invention as well as others together with the many advantages thereof will more fully appear as I proceed with the specification.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a chair embodying the preferred form of my improved chair construction.

Fig. 2 is a view in rear elevation on an enlarged scale of the seat frame and back rest and associated parts embodied in my improved chair construction.

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation on a reduced scale of the parts shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 1- is a horizontal plan sectional view as taken on the line l4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a vertical detail sectional view on an enlarged scale as taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a vertical detail sectional view on an enlarged scale as taken on the line 66 of Fig. 3.

Figs. 7 and S are detail perspective views of parts or sections making up the seat frame of my improved chair construction.

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of a certain washer embodied in my invention and which will be more fully referred to later.

The invention is herein shown and will be Serial No. 167,103.

herein described as embodied in a metallic chair which has now become known as a correct posture chair and which will be so described, but this is to be considered as by way of illustration only and not as by way of limitation because the invention may also be employed in other types of chairs where the peculiar characteristics thereof make it of advantage to do so.

Referring now in detail to that embodi ment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, 1 indicates as a whole the seat frame of my improved chair, which is mounted in any suitable manner upon the top ends of upright supporting legs 2 all of which are connected together by horizontally disposed brace bars 33. Said seat frame as illustrated in Fig. 4 is rectangular in plan and is wider than it is deep, and is made up'of edgewise disposed front and rear frame sections 4 and 5 respectively, both of which are shown in perspective in Figs. 7 and 8.

The frame section 4: is substantially U shaped and includes rearwardly extending side members 66 and a front connecting member 7 which is bowed. downwardly between its ends. In the rear end of each side member is an opening 8 and in the forward end of each side member is a longitudinal slot 9 with a plurality of recesses or notches 10-1O opening into the slot from above. The frame section 5 includes av rear member 11 bowed downwardly between its ends, and short forwardly extending end members or ears 12 each of whichlias an opening 13 therein to register with the openings 8 in the rear ends of the side members 6. A long bolt 14 passes through the openings 13 and 8 respectively of the frame parts 12 and 6 respectively, the bolt having a head 15 at one end and upon the other end receiving a. butterfly nut 16. A tube 17 surrounds that part of the bolt between the ears 1212 to provide the proper spacing between said ears. The front and rear bowed members 7 and 11 are connected together near each end by flat bars 18-18 each engaging the top edges of said members and the ends of said flat bars are bent over to provide ears 1919 which engage the outside of said frame members and are riveted thereto as at 20 in Fig. 2. These flat bars not only rigidify the seat frame as a whole but also provide the means by which the seat frame is fixed to the tightening of the associated nut 34.

supporting legs as well as the means to which a seat 21 is attached.

The seat frame just described admirably lends itself to the adjustable support of certain arms and braces which in themselves support a back rest member as will now be described. 22-22 indicate substantially upright side arms, one at the rear end of each side member of the seat frame. In the bot tom end of each side arm is a longitudinal slot 23 on the front side of which is formed a plurality of recesses or notches 2424 that open into the slot. These arms are mounted on the ends of the bolts 14, one between the bolt head 15 and associated seat frame member and the other between the nut 16 and associated seat frame member 6. The top end of each arm is offset inwardly and is pivoted to a rearwardly extending bent ear 25 on the associated end of a back rest supporting bar 26 by a rivet 27, a washer 28 being interposed between said ear and offset top end of each arm. 29 indicates a rearwardly bowed back rest member which is fixed to the front side of the back rest bar 26.

Associated with each arm 22 is a brace 30. This brace is preferably made of tubing and its top end is offset inwardly and terminates in a flattened ear 31 pivotally attached to the inwardly extending part of said end of the arm 22 b the rivet 27 before mentioned. The bottom end of each brace is also flattened as at 32 and a bolt 33 passes through the slot 9 of the associated seat frame member and through said flattened brace end 32 after which a butterfly nut 3 1 is threaded upon the nut. Preferably I interpose a nonrotative washer 35 (shown in perspective in Fig. 9) upon the bolt between the head and inner surface of the associated seat frame member 6 and said washer has a bent over lip 36 to engage the bottom edge of said member 6 to prevent turning of the washer. The bolt 33 has a square shank 33 near its head which fits in a square opening 35 in the washer to prevent turning of the bolt in loosening or The braces 30 are carved rearwardly as best shown in Fig. 3 so as not to present too much of an obstruction at each side of the seat and the bottom portion of the associated arm 22 is offset as at 22 to provide lateral clearance for said brace when so necessary.

By loosening up the nut 16 the side arms may be adjusted as to height above the seat. the ends of the bolts 14 then being engaged in the proper notch or recess 24 in the ends of the arms 22. The nuts 34 are then loosened so that the front or bottom ends of the brace bars may be adjusted forwardly or rearwardly in the slots 9 to position the bolts 33 in the desired notch or recess 10. This adjustment of the braces brings the back rest into the desired forward or rearward position which together with the vertical adjustment of the arms 22, locates the back rest member in that position most convenient for the occupant. Of course after the back rest member has thus been located the various nuts are tightened up to lock the back rest in the adjusted position.

My improved chair construction has many advantages. The back rest member may be readily adjusted and by attaching the braces to the top ends of the side arms I provide a structure wherein the arms are better held against flexing and the necessity of drilling extra holes in the arms and providing ext-rarivets for attaching the braces thereto is eliminated.

The seat frame may be readily made and assembled and the spacing tube prevents inward bending or collapse of the rear end of the seat frame when tightening up the nut 16.

lVhile in describing my invention, I have referred in detail to the various forms, construction, and arrangement of the parts thereof, the same is to be considered as by way of illustration only so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A chair embodying therein, a seat frame including side members each having a longi tudinal slot at the forward end thereof with recesses opening into said slot, an arm operatively connected at its bottom end to the rear end of each side member, a back rest member, a brace member associated with each arm, means connecting the top ends of said arms and brace members to said back rest member, a member slidable along said side member, a bolt nonrotative therein and extending through said slot and through the bottom end of each brace member and adapted to be entered into one of the recesses opening into said slot and a nut on said bolt for clamping said bottom end of said brace memher in place.

2. A chair embodying therein a seat frame comprising front and rear sections, the frontsection including a front bar and rearward ly extending side members and the rear section including a rear bar and forwardly extending ears, a bolt extending through said side members and ears, a tube on said bolt and spacing the ears apart, back rest sup porting arms operatively engaged on said bolt, and brace bars connecting said arms to the forward ends of said side members.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 7th day of February, 1927.

PHILIP FLETCHER. 

